Ben Barrett remanded in custody ahead of Swansea hearing

A LLANDEILO man accused of rape has been sent to Swansea Crown Court.

Ben Barrett, 37, of Maes y Farchnad, Llandeilo, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jul 2).

He is charged with rape, contrary to section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The alleged offence is said to have taken place in Llandeilo between March 21 and March 31, 2025.

No plea was entered during the magistrates’ court hearing.

The case was sent to Swansea Crown Court under section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Barrett was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on August 3 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

CONCERNS are growing in Neyland after another vehicle collision added to long-running fears over speeding and road safety in the town.

Residents say the latest incident, in which a driver struck a parked vehicle, has renewed calls for action on Honeyborough Road and Kensington Road, where there have been repeated reports of vehicles losing control, wing mirrors being knocked off and damage caused to parked cars.

The issue has become a major concern for people living near the bend where Honeyborough Road leads into Kensington Road.

Earlier this year, a car mounted the pavement and crashed into the wall of a house on Kensington Road, prompting warnings that it was only “sheer good luck” that nobody had been killed or seriously injured.

Local community page Neyland News said there was “real public concern” about safety in the area, particularly on Honeyborough Road.

It said: “On Thursday a driver hit a parked vehicle. These incidents have happened a number of times with cars losing wing mirrors and scrapes to bodywork. This has been reported to the police and the county council.”

The post added that Pembrokeshire County Council is carrying out a topographical survey from Honeyborough Roundabout to Kensington Road, with proposals expected to follow for measures aimed at physically slowing traffic.

The post said: “This cannot come soon enough. I will keep everyone updated on this. I have asked the police to carry out much more regular speed checks. I am in direct contact with the Inspector.”

County councillor Simon Hancock, who represents the area and is also Pembrokeshire County Council’s presiding member, said speeding on Honeyborough Road and Kensington Road remained a serious concern.

He said: “Speeding on Honeyborough Road and Kensington Road are matters of great concern. A number of serious incidents have been reported recently but this situation is getting worse.

“I am pushing hard for much greater speed enforcement checks from the police and physical traffic calming measures from the highways department of Pembrokeshire County Council.”

The latest incident follows repeated warnings from residents and councillors about the risk to pedestrians, householders and drivers.

In February, Cllr Hancock called for traffic calming measures after a vehicle hit the wall of a house in Kensington Road. At the time, he said residents had attended a town council meeting to raise concerns about speeding vehicles losing control at the bend.

He said the incident was the fifth serious collision in nine years involving vehicles striking houses in the terrace.

Cllr Hancock said at the time: “Any pedestrians on the pavement at the time could have been killed or seriously injured. I have written to the chief executive, leader and cabinet member insisting on road traffic calming measures at this location.

“It is by sheer good luck that a terrible tragedy has been avoided.”

After the February collision, Pembrokeshire County Council said it was liaising with police to establish the cause before considering what measures the highway authority could take.

Residents are now waiting to see what proposals emerge from the latest survey work, with calls growing for visible enforcement and permanent traffic calming before a more serious incident occurs.

Carl Rago remains in custody after separate guilty plea to damaging police property

A CILGERRAN man accused of intentionally strangling a woman in Haverfordwest has been remanded in custody.

Carl Rago, 29, of Penffynnon, Cilgerran, Cardigan, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jul 2) for a mention hearing.

The court register states that Rago is charged with intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015.

The alleged offence is said to have taken place in Haverfordwest on May 25.

No plea is recorded on the court register for that charge.

Rago has also indicated a guilty plea to a separate charge of criminal damage.

That offence relates to damage caused in Haverfordwest on June 7 to the inside of a police vehicle, described as a C30 Vauxhall van, and a Samsung mobile phone belonging to Dyfed-Powys Police.

The damage was valued at under £5,000.

Magistrates remanded Rago in custody after the hearing. The court register records the remand basis as including a likelihood of further offending, breach of bail, previous record and character, and the nature and seriousness of the offences.

The case was adjourned for a further mention hearing at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on July 23.